It is a cold evening and there’s heavy rain. There I am roasting corn with my siblings. I hear the sound of a bike and there is wonder about who can it be with this rain. It is my uncle who just arrived. A few minutes later I overhear a voice calling “Habi” Where are you? I answer here I am in the kitchen. He spoke nicely I want us to discuss. I was anticipating what is my uncle up to.

Thoughts are running in my mind and I’m eager to listen to what he wants to say.  Behold!  he forges ahead and says; Habi you are going to marry Haruna. There is a serious shock on my face my eyes are wide open and my mouth is as well and I freeze for about some minutes. And he continues this guy is my business partner’s son. I ask him out of shock, confusion, and frustration, Uncle why? How? And what for?

He says all these questions are not necessary just listen and do what will please us. I asked him what about my dreams of having my Advanced level and enrolling in the university, and he said it’s more than a year and you haven’t gone to school. So, it’s needless dreaming. I burst into a cry and leave his presence.

 The next day I deemed it necessary to complain to my other uncles little did I know it was a plan by all of them. When I complained my other uncle in his words said; Habiba you know fully well your dad died due to a heart attack as almost all his cattle were seized by separatist fighters and you know it is so difficult for just your mum and bro to sponsor out of Bamenda for education.

I weep in tears and anguish as everything about my dad becomes so fresh in my mind and the situation at hand. He added just marry this guy and you will be able to continue your education otherwise it will not be possible. I am now thinking about how can I marry at the age of 16 to a 32-year-old person whom I don’t know and have never met before. I said to myself; “Habiba your life is shattered and you have no future”. Everything was so unbearable I can’t stop thinking because it all sounds so strange. This made me sick with some sort of malaria but the diagnosis was negative nothing positive despite the critical situation.

I’m discharge from the hospital but no change. Three weeks later it becomes so severe that I am taken to Bamungo Integrate Mental Health Center for Humanity. This led to a serious mental problem that is life-threatening. I am so unconscious and helpless that it takes the medical personnel so much time to diagnose this mental health issue. The illness takes a very long period to heal from February 2017 to April 2019. It is 2020 I finally had my A. Levels after all the anguish and pains I’m going through.

What I’m saying, in essence, there’s no pre-condition for education, education is a universal right and hence should be respected and let’s put an end to the Anglophone Crisis. There are other alternatives, war isn’t an option, war is so terrible and it is a collective effort of the government, Civil Society Organizations, and religious and traditional leaders, all important personalities need to come together to call for an to end this crisis. The religious leaders are seen as voices of the supreme being and the masses can always listen to them and it will cause an impact. The traditional rulers as heads of the people should sensitize the communities and make the people ambassadors of peace through advocacy. The government and NGOs should increase the number of capacity-building workshops monthly to emancipate many souls to be peace advocates. My name is Habiba Hodi a young peace advocate.